Common Network Security Terms:

Key Network Security technical terms are Asset, Vulnerability, Exploit, Threat, Attack, Risk and
Countermeasures.

Asset:
Asset is anything, which the organization is invested, and which is valuable to the organization.
Examples: Properties, Vehicles, Heavy Equipment, Plants, Buildings, Employees, Computers,
Data, Intellectual Properties etc. Protecting the organization's assets is the prime function of
security (Physical Security or Network Security).

Vulnerability:
Vulnerability can be defined a weakness in a system or its design. Every system is human
created. Chances for errors, mistakes are always there in every human created system.
Vulnerabilities are always there in Applications, Network Protocols, and Operating Systems etc.
An attacker to gain access to an organization’s network can exploit vulnerability.

Exploit:
An Exploit can be defined as a way, method or tool which is used by an attacker, on a
vulnerability, to cause damage to the target network or system. The exploit can be software
that may cause a buffer overflow or a method of social engineering to hack a password.

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Threat:
Threat can be defined as anything danger to an Asset. Threats can be accidentally triggered or
intentionally exploited.

Attack:
Attack can be defined as action taken by an attacker to harm an asset.

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Risk:
The term "Risk" can be defined as potential for loss, compromise, damage, destruction or other
negative consequence of an organization's Asset. Risk arises from a threat, multiple threats, and
exploiting vulnerability. Risk forms an adverse negative affect an organization's Asset.
Risk = Asset + Threat + Vulnerability

Countermeasure:
Countermeasure is an action initiated by the organization typically security professionals to
mitigate a threat.

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Common Security Terms:
Key Network Security technical terms are Asset, Vulnerability, Exploit, Threat, Attack, Risk and
Countermeasures.

4 | P a g e Created by Ahmad Ali E-Mail: ahmadalimsc@gmail.com , Mobile: 056 430 3717